Course Syllabus
Welcome to ECON135: What Is Money?
Specific information about this course and its requirements can be found below. For more general information about taking Saylor Academy courses, including information about Community and Academic Codes of Conduct, please read the Student Handbook.
Course Description
Join Michael Saylor and Robert Breedlove as they explore Bitcoin through the lenses of energy, technology, and anthropology.
Course Introduction
The sheer breadth of the Bitcoin universe is incredibly expansive. The first experience of any person who starts down the Bitcoin rabbit hole is the realization that there are many pathways of knowledge and areas of focus to explore. You may have heard about mining, wallets, self-custody, centralized and decentralized exchanges, methods of acquiring Bitcoin, KYC/AML regulations, cryptography, cold vs hot storage, backup keys, coin-joining, and more. This course addresses very few of the topics mentioned above, and intentionally so. Instead, "The Saylor Series" has a different intention and focus. Built around a long-form discussion between Michael Saylor and Robert Breedlove released as 17 episodes on Breedlove’s podcast ("The What Is Money?” Show), this course facilitates a deep dive into the intersecting themes of energy, technology, and anthropology.
If you're looking for a shorter, less philosophical survey of the Bitcoin landscape that provides a practical guide to acquiring, storing, and spending it, we highly recommend Stephan Livera's course "Bitcoin for Everybody" at Saylor Academy. The Saylor Series is different. The curriculum for this course is the discussion between Saylor and Breedlove, with discussion prompts and quiz questions to deepen your engagement with the overarching theme: Bitcoin as the intersection of energy, anthropology, and technology.
This course includes the following units:
- Unit 1: Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Bitcoin: Unraveling Human History and Technological Progress
- Unit 2: Energy, Money, and the Evolution of Digital Power
- Unit 3: Resilience, Function, and Philosophical Implications of Bitcoin
- Unit 4: Transformative Money and the Evolution of Sociopolitical Systems
- Unit 5: Bitcoin's Path to Immortality: Exploring Security, Evolution, and Transformative Applications
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Describe the intersections between energy, technology, and anthropology, both historically and in the modern context of Bitcoin;
- Detail the claim that Bitcoin is a unique store of value, a new method of transferring monetary energy through time and space at levels of efficiency and speed unseen in human history;
- Differentiate Bitcoin from other crypto assets;
- Explain the attributes of Bitcoin that make it antifragile through the lenses of energy, economics, politics, hardware and software, environmentalism, militarism, war, philanthropy, and more;
- Understand why Bitcoin is a singular monetary innovation that cannot be replicated.
Throughout this course, you will also see learning outcomes in each unit. Use them to help organize your studies and gauge your progress.
Course Materials
This course's primary learning materials are articles, lectures, and videos. All materials are free to access and can be found in each unit of the course. Pay close attention to the notes accompanying the materials as they will guide you on what to focus on in each resource and how they fit into the course. A list of all learning materials can also be found by clicking on Resources in the navigation bar.
Evaluation and Minimum Passing Score
Only the final exam is considered when awarding a grade for this course. To pass, you need a score of 70% or higher on the final exam. Your score is calculated immediately after you complete it. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you may retake the exam as many times as you like, with a 7-day waiting period between attempts. Upon passing, you will be awarded a free Course Completion Certificate.
End-of-unit assessments are also included, designed to help you study but do not factor into your final grade. These can be taken as many times as you like until you understand the material.
Tips for Success
ECON135: What Is Money? is a self-paced course, meaning you decide when to start and complete it. There is no instructor or assigned schedule. We estimate the average student will take 26 hours to complete this course. We recommend setting a study schedule and sticking to it. Here are a few strategies for success:
- Take notes on key terms and theories to help contextualize them and create a study refresher.
- Test your understanding by reflecting on what you’ve learned to improve retention over time.
Technical Requirements
This course is delivered entirely online. You need a computer or mobile device with internet access to view or download course materials and attempt assessments and the final exam. To access the full course, including assessments, log into your Saylor Academy account and enroll. Without logging in, you cannot take assessments or track your progress.
Fees
This course is free to enroll in and access. Everything, including textbooks, videos, and activities, is free. You also get a free final exam and completion certificate.
Saylor Study Assistant
Important AI Disclaimer
Although the Study Assistant provides valuable insights, it is still evolving, and not all answers may be perfectly aligned with the course objectives. If you ever come across discrepancies between the assistant's advice and the content provided, default to the course's official materials for accuracy. Remember, the assistant is a tool to assist your learning, but it does not replace the comprehensive resources designed by the course creators.